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Current Affairs 21 January 2026

We are here for you to provide the important Recent and Latest Current Affairs January 21 2026, which have unique updates of Latest Current Affairs 2026 events from all newspapers such as The Hindu, The Economic Times, PIB, Times of India, PTI, Indian Express, Business Standard and all Government official websites.

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NATIONAL AFFAIRS

Overview of 28th Conference of Speakers and Presiding Officers of the Commonwealth Held in New DelhiThe Government of India(GoI) hosted the 28th Conference of Speakers and Presiding Officers of the Commonwealth (CSPOC), organized by the Parliament of India, from January 14 to 16, 2026 at the Central Hall of Samvidhan Sadan, part of the Parliament House Complex in New Delhi, Delhi.

  • The conference was chaired by Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla.
  • India hosted the conference for the fourth time, after earlier editions in 1970–71, 1986, and 2010.

Highlights of CSPOC 2026:
Standing Committee Meeting: The CSPOC 2026 commenced on 14 January 2026 with a meeting of the CSPOC Standing Committee, which oversaw the organisation’s activities and comprised 15 members, with five members constituting the quorum.
Inauguration of CSPOC 2026: On 15 January 2026, the conference was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

  • He also inaugurated the 9th Group of Twenty (G20) Parliamentary Speakers’ (P20) Summit, held on the sidelines of CSPOC 2026 in New Delhi.

Participation: The 2026 event witnessed the largest participation, with 61 Speakers and Presiding Officers from 42 Commonwealth Countries and representatives of 4 semi-autonomous parliaments.
Other Events: Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla also chaired the Lightning Round, the Special Plenary, and the Closing Plenary, and delivered the keynote address during the Special Plenary on “The Role of Speakers and Presiding Officers in Maintaining Strong Democratic Institutions.”
Chairmanship Handover: During the event, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla handed over the chairmanship of the 29th CSPOC to Lindsay Hoyle, Speaker of the United Kingdom (UK) House of Commons.

  • The 29th CSPOC will be held in London (UK) in 2028.

>>Read Full News

Responsible Nations Index 2026: Singapore Leads, India Ranked at 16th SpotIn January 2026, Former President of India Ram Nath Kovind launched the inaugural edition of the Responsible Nations Index (RNI), a 1st-of-its-kind global framework at the Dr. Ambedkar International Centre (DAIC) in New Delhi, Delhi.

  • India was ranked 16th globally in the RNI 2026 with an overall score of 0.551513.
  • Singapore topped the ranking among 154 countries with an overall score of 0.61945, followed by Switzerland(0.58692) in second place and Denmark(0.58372) in third place.

Key Findings of RNI 2026:
Top 10 Performers: Cyprus secured 4th place with a score of 0.57737, followed by Sweden in 5th with 0.57397, Czechia in 6th with 0.57037, Belgium in 7th with 0.56900, Austria in 8th with 0.56645, Ireland in 9th with 0.56336, and Georgia in 10th place with a score of 0.55805.
India’s Performance: RNI has ranked India at 16th position globally , ahead of European countries like: France, Albania, and Poland, which featured among the top 20 countries in the index.
Major Economies: The index has ranked major economies like: Japan, the United States of America (USA), and China at 38th, 66th, and 68th positions, respectively.
Lowest-Ranked Countries :The bottom three nations in the RNI 2026 were Central African Republic (154th, 0.35715), Syria (153rd, 0.37254), and South Sudan (152nd, 0.37389).
>>Read Full News

Overview of Japan’s FM Toshimitsu Motegi 3-Day Visit to India from January 15 to  17, 2026
Japan’s Foreign Minister (FM) Toshimitsu Motegi  undertook a 3-day official visit to India from January 15 to 17, 2026.

Exam Hints:

  • What? Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi Visited India
  • Dates of Visit: January 15 to 17, 2026
  • Key Highlights: 
    • Reviewed the Delhi Metro Project;
    • Participated in the 18th India-Japan Strategic Dialogue
  • Key Outcomes:
    • Launch of AI Dialogue (led by FMs);
    • JWG on Critical Minerals (in early 2026);

Key Highlights of Visit: 
Metro Project: During his visit to India, Japanese FM Motegi, along with Japanese Ambassador to India Ono Keiichi took a ride on the Delhi Metro in New Delhi, Delhi.

  • Also, Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) has committed to provide financial support to the Delhi Metro Project since Phase-I.

Dialogue: Union Minister S. Jaishankar, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) along with Japanese FM Motegi participated in the 18th India-Japan Strategic Dialogue held in New Delhi, Delhi.
Key Outcomes : Both countries will convene the private security dialogue under the Economic Security initiative, aimed  to strengthen public-private cooperation in the field of economic security.

  • India and Japan launched the Artificial Intelligence (AI) Dialogue to be led by FMs.
  • Both countries have agreed to convene the Joint Working Group (JWG) on critical minerals in early 2026.

Economic Security Dialogue: The second round of the Economic Security Dialogue, co‑led by the Foreign Secretary of India and the Japanese Vice Minister, was scheduled to take place in the 1st half of 2026.

Overview of Vibrant Gujarat Regional Conference 2026 Held  in Rajkot, GujaratIn January 2026, Prime Minister(PM) Narendra Modi inaugurated the Vibrant Gujarat Regional Conference(VGRC) 2026 for Kutch and Saurashtra Region, held from January 11 to 15, 2026, at Marwadi University in Rajkot, Gujarat.

  • The Vibrant Gujarat Regional Exhibition (VGRE) was conducted in Rajkot  as an integral part of VGRC 2026.

Highlights of Vibrant Gujarat Regional Conference(VGRC) 2026:
Participants: The event brought together policymakers, industry leaders, investors, MSMEs, startups, artisans, academia, export bodies, and international delegates.
Partner Countries: It includes Japan, South Korea, Rwanda, Ukraine.
Key Investments:
Reliance Industries: During the conference, Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) committed to double its investment to Rs.7 lakh crores in Gujarat over the next five years.
Adani Group: Adani Group will invest Rs.1.50 lakh crore over the next five years in Mundra and Kutch (Gujarat), primarily to develop a 37 Gigawatt(GW) Renewable Energy (RE) park, one of the largest RE facilities in India.
Welspun Group: It will invest Rs.5000 crores in Gujarat to establish the world’s largest pipeline manufacturing facility, strengthening industrial diversification and infrastructure supply chains in Gujarat.
Jyoti CNC Industries: It will invest Rs.10,000 crores over the next five years in Gujarat in manufacturing, Research and Development (R&D), and skill development.
MoUs Signed: 
Overview: During the VGRC 2026, 5,492 Memorandum of Understandings (MoUs) worth Rs.5.78 lakh crores (approximately USD 70 billion) were signed, aimed at developing Saurashtra and Kutch regions as key economic engines aligned with the Government of India (GoI)’s vision of Viksit Bharat @2047.
Hydrogen Integration: An MoU was signed by the Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board (PNGRB), under the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas (MoPNG), and DVGW (German Technical and Scientific Association for Gas and Water) of Germany.

  • The MoU aims to create a framework for cooperation on integrating hydrogen into India’s natural gas network.

>>Read Full News

Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh Inaugurates Ammunition Facility in Nagpur, Maharashtra
In January 2026, Union Minister Rajnath Singh, Ministry of Defence (MoD), inaugurated a Medium Calibre Ammunition Manufacturing Facility at the Solar Defence and Aerospace Limited(SDAL) in Nagpur, Maharashtra.

  • The new facility reinforces India’s push for self-reliance (Aatmanirbharta) in defence production.

Exam Hints:

  • What? Inauguration of Medium Calibre Ammunition Manufacturing Facility
  • Inaugurated by: Union Minister Rajnath Singh, MoD
  • Where? Solar Defence and Aerospace Limited (SDAL), Nagpur, Maharashtra
  • Purpose: Manufacture 30 mm ammunition for IA and IN
  • Key Highlights: 
    • Reviewed Pinaka Rocket manufacturing facility
    • Flagged off the 1st tranche of Guided Pinaka rockets to Armenia

Key Details: 
Facility: The new fully automated facility will manufacture 30 millimeter (mm) ammunition, which is extensively used by the Indian Army (IA) and the Indian Navy (IN).
Pinaka Rocket Facility: During his visit, Union Minister Rajnath Singh reviewed the Pinaka Rocket manufacturing facility at the Solar Group and flagged off the 1st tranche of Guided Pinaka rockets exported to Armenia.
Key Progress Made in India’s Defence Sector:
Domestic Defence Production: India’s domestic defence production has surged from Rs 46,425 crore (in 2014) to a record approximately Rs 1.51 lakh crore (2025-26), of which, more than Rs 33,000 was contributed by the private sector.
Defence Exports: India’s defence exports have risen sharply to Rs.24,000 crore from less than Rs.1,000 crore ten years ago.

5th Edition of INS Sagardhwani Flagged Off for Sagar Maitri V (SM-5) Initiative
In January 2026, India’s oceanographic research vessel, Indian Navy Ship (INS) Sagardhwani, operated by the Naval Physical and Oceanographic Laboratory (NPOL) under Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), was flagged off from Southern Naval Command, Kochi, Kerala, for the fifth edition of the Sagar Maitri (SM-5) initiative.

Exam Hints:

  • What? INS Sagardhwani flagged off for Sagar Maitri V
  • By Whom? Radha Mohan Singh, MP and Chairperson, Parliamentary Standing Committee on Defence
  • Implementer: NPOL, Kochi under DRDO
  • Objective: Scientific cooperation and ocean research in the IOR
  • Countries Involved: Oman, Maldives, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Myanmar
  • Mission Significance: Enhances Underwater Domain Awareness (UDA) for the Indian Navy

About Sagar Maitri Programme:
Vision: Aligned with the Government of India’s MAHASAGAR goal—Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions.
Focus: Promotes scientific research, socio-economic engagement, capacity building, and professional exchanges among 8 IOR nations (Oman, Maldives, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Myanmar).
MAITRI: The Marine & Allied Interdisciplinary Training and Research Initiative (MAITRI) acts as the scientific pillar for long-term ocean research partnerships.
Platform: INS Sagardhwani conducts oceanographic missions, retracing historic INS Kistna routes from the International Indian Ocean Expedition (1962–65).
SM-5: The fifth mission engages eight IOR countries and begins collaborative oceanographic studies with the Maldives.
Objective: Collect oceanographic and acoustic data to enhance Underwater Domain Awareness (UDA) for the Indian Navy(IN).
INS Sagardhwani: 
Type: INS Sagardhwani is a specialised Marine Acoustic Research Ship (MARS) for oceanographic and acoustic studies.
Management: The vessel is designed and owned by DRDO’s NPOL and operated by the IN.
Construction: It was built by Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE), Kolkata, West Bengal (WB), and commissioned in July 1994.

BANKING & FINANCE

RBI Recognises FEDAI as Self-Regulatory Organisation for Authorised DealersIn January 2026, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) recognised the Foreign Exchange Dealers’ Association of India (FEDAI) as a Self-Regulatory Organisation (SRO) for all Authorised Dealers (ADs) under the Omnibus Framework for Self-Regulatory Organisations (SROs) of the RBI.
RBI Recognition of FEDAI as SRO:
Recognition: RBI formally recognised FEDAI as a SRO based on its long-standing role in governing conduct in the foreign exchange (Forex) market.
Role: As an SRO, FEDAI will frame standards, promote best practices, ensure ethical conduct, and monitor compliance among Authorised Dealers.
Framework: The Omnibus SRO Framework aims to strengthen self-regulation, enhance accountability, ensure consistency, and reduce RBI’s regulatory burden.
Transition: RBI has granted FEDAI one year to align its governance and operations with Omnibus SRO requirements, including system upgrades and transparency enhancements.
RBI Approves Japan’s SMBC to Set Up Wholly Owned Subsidiary in India
In January 2026, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) granted in-principle approval to Japan-based Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation (SMBC) to establish a wholly owned subsidiary (WOS) in India under the RBI (Setting Up of Wholly Owned Subsidiaries by Foreign Banks) Guidelines, 2025.

  • Regulation: The final banking licence will be issued under Section 22(1) of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949, upon fulfillment of RBI conditions.

 About Foreign Exchange Dealers’ Association of India (FEDAI):
Chairman – Srinivasa Panigrahi (Chief General Manager (CGM), Global Markets at State Bank of India, SBI)
Headquarters
– Mumbai, Maharashtra
Established – 1958
>>Read Full News

Canara Bank Partners with NBSL to Integrate UPI into its Payment App Canara aiPe
In January 2026, Canara Bank has partnered with NPCI BHIM(Bharat Interface for Money) Services Limited (NBSL), a wholly owned subsidiary of the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), to integrate Unified Payments Interface (UPI) technology into its banking payments application(app), Canara ai1Pe.

Exam Hints:

  • What? Partnership announced
  • Entities: Canara Bank and NBSL
  • Purpose: To integrate UPI into Canara ai1Pe
  • Significance: Canara Bank becomes 1st bank to adopt NBSL’s plugin-based UPI solution

Key Details of UPI Integration:
Integration: Under this collaboration, NBSL’s bank plugin technology has been integrated into the Canara ai1Pe app, enabling secure, compliant, and scalable UPI-based digital payments for both Canara Bank customers and non-customers.
Significance: With this move, Canara Bank becomes the first bank to implement NBSL’s plugin-based UPI solution.
Feature Upgrades: The integration provides access to the latest UPI features from the BHIM Payments App, enhancing security and operational resilience while reducing costs of maintaining a standalone UPI platform.

ECONOMY & BUSINESS

IMF Raises India’s Economic Growth Forecast to 7.3% in FY26In January 2026, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) released its World Economic Outlook (WEO) titled, “Global Economy: Steady amid Divergent Forces”, in which it has upwardly revised India’s growth outlook for Financial Year 2025-26 (FY26) to 7.3%, from 6.6% in October 2025.

Exam Hints:

  • What? World Economic Outlook released
  • Title: Global Economy: Steady amid Divergent Forces
  • Released by: IMF
  • India Growth: 7.3% – FY26; 6.4% – FY27 & FY28
  • Global Growth: 3.3% – CY25; 3.2% CY26 & CY 27
  • Global Inflation:  3.8% – CY26, 3.4% – CY27

Key Findings:
Reason for Revision: The upward revision reflects stronger corporate earnings in 3rd quarter(Q3) and robust economic momentum in Q4.

  • The IMF’s prediction was just marginally lower than India’s government projection of 7.4% for the same period.

Upcoming Fiscal Years: The IMF has also projected that India’s growth would moderate to 6.4% in both FY27 and FY28, citing softening of cyclical and temporary factors.
Inflation Outlook: India’s inflation is projected to approach the Reserve Bank of India’s (RBI) target range of 2% to 6%, after a significant drop in 2025, largely due to easing food prices.
India Leads: Among emerging and developing Asian economies, India continues to lead, outpacing regional peers and contributing significantly to Asia’s projected 5.0% growth in 2026.
Global Economic Outlook:
Global growth: The IMF projected global growth at 3.3% for Calendar Year 2025 (CY25) and 3.2% for CY26, with the same 3.2% growth expected in 2027.

  • The growth is supported by easing trade tensions, accommodative financial conditions and a surge in technology-driven investment.

Global Inflation: The global inflation is projected to decline from an estimated 4.1% in CY25 to 3.8% in CY26 and further to 3.4% in CY27.
Global Trade Outlook: Global trade volume growth is projected to fall from 4.1% in CY25 to 2.6% in CY26, before rebounding to 3.1% in CY27, reflecting front-loading effects and adjustments in trade flows due to new policies.
Drivers of Global Growth: The IMF stated that steady global growth has been driven by a balance between challenges from uncertain trade policies and gains from increased AI and technology investments in North America and Asia.
About International Monetary Fund(IMF):
Managing Director (MD) –Kristalina Georgieva
Headquarters – Washington DC, the United States of America (USA)
Member Nations – 191
Established – 1944

Air India and Singapore Airlines Sign Commercial Cooperation Agreement to Strengthen Partnership
In  January 2026, Air India and Singapore Airlines (SIA) signed a commercial cooperation framework agreement to deepen their long-standing partnership and explore joint business opportunities.

  • The agreement was signed by Campbell Wilson, Managing Director(MD) and Chief Executive Officer(CEO), Air India; and Goh Choon Phong, CEO, SIA in Mumbai, Maharashtra.

Exam Hints:

  • What? Commercial cooperation framework agreement signed
  • Signed Between: Air India and Singapore Airlines (SIA)
  • Signatories: Campbell Wilson (Air India) and Goh Choon Phong (SIA)
  • Objective: Strengthen partnership and expand India–Singapore air connectivity

About Commercial Cooperation Agreement:
Improved Connectivity:  Air India and SIA plan to offer integrated bookings, expanded route options, and improved connectivity through coordinated flight schedules, enabling passengers to travel across both airlines as a single, seamless journey.
Enhanced Benefits: The agreement envisages expanded collaboration in corporate travel programmes and the gradual enhancement of frequent flyer privileges, extending benefits for Air India’s Maharaja Club and SIA’s KrisFlyer members beyond existing Star Alliance offerings.
Expanded Codeshare Network: Air India and SIA currently codeshare across 61 destinations in 20 countries and territories, with a major expansion in October 2024 adding 51 international and domestic destinations to their combined networks.

APPOINTMENTS & RESIGNATIONS

ACC Appoints New Directors General of NIA, BSF & ITBPIn January 2026, the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC), headed by Prime Minister(PM) Narendra Modi, approved the proposal of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) for the appointments of Rakesh Aggarwal as Director General (DG) of the National Investigation Agency (NIA), Praveen Kumar as DG of the Border Security Force (BSF), and Shatrujeet Singh Kapoor as DG of the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP).

Exam Hints:

  • What? Appointment of New DGs for NIA, BSF, and ITBP
  • Approved by: Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC)
  • DG of NIA: Rakesh Aggarwal (up to August 31, 2028)
  • DG of BSF: Praveen Kumar (up to September 30, 2030)
  • DG of ITBP: Shatrujeet Singh Kapoor (up to October 31, 2026).

About Rakesh Aggarwal:
Profile: He is a 1994-batch Indian Police Service (IPS) officer from the Himachal Pradesh (HP) cadre.
Tenure: He will serve as DG of NIA until his superannuation on 31 August 2028.
Previous Role: He served as Special DG in the NIA, held additional charge as DG, and took interim charge of the agency following the repatriation of Sadanand Date (1990-batch IPS, Maharashtra cadre).
About NIA: Established in 2008 after the Mumbai(Maharashtra) terror attacks; motto – Rashtraraksanam Adyakartavyam (Protection of the nation is the first duty); headquartered in New Delhi, Delhi.
About Praveen Kumar:
Profile: He is a 1993-batch IPS officer of the West Bengal (WB) cadre.
Tenure: Appointed as DG of BSF until 30 September 2030 or further orders.
Predecessor: He succeeded Daljit Singh Chawdhary (1990 Batch IPS officer from Uttar Pradesh, UP) as BSF DG, taking interim charge before his formal appointment on 1 December 2025.
About BSF: Established on 1 December 1965; motto – Duty Unto Death (Jeevan Paryant Kartavya); headquartered in New Delhi.
About Shatrujeet Singh Kapoor:
Profile: He is a 1990-batch IPS officer of the Haryana cadre
Tenure: Appointed as DG of ITBP until 31 October 2026 or further orders.
Predecessor: He succeeds Praveen Kumar, who was appointed as DG of BSF.
Previous Role: Before becoming ITBP DG, he was the Director General of Police (DGP) of Haryana
About ITBP:
Established on 24 October 1962 after the India-China war; motto – ‘Shaurya, Dridhata, Karm Nishtha’ (Valor, Steadfastness, and Commitment); headquartered in New Delhi.
About Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA):
Union Minister- Amit Shah (Constituency- Gandhinagar, Gujarat)
Minister of State (MoS)- Nityanand Rai (Constituency- Ujiarpur, Bihar); Bandi Sanjay Kumar (Constituency- Karimnagar, Telangana)

Yoweri Museveni Re-elected as President of Uganda for Seventh TermIn January 2026, Uganda’s Electoral Commission announced that 81-year old incumbent President Yoweri Museveni of the National Resistance Movement won the presidential election with 71.65% of the vote, securing a seventh term in office for 5 years from 2026 to 2031.

  • Opposition leader Bobi Wine, a 43-year-old singer-turned-politician representing the National Unity Platform and Uganda’s youthful demographic, received 24.72% of the vote in the 2026 presidential election.

Exam Hints:

  • What? Re-elected as President of Uganda
  • Who? Yoweri Museveni
  • Vote Share: 71.65 percent (Museveni) and 24.72 percent (Wine).
  • Term? Seventh term
  • Tenure: 5 years from 2026 to 2031
  • Known for: Longest-serving African leaders; regional diplomacy

About Yoweri Museveni:
Tenure: Yoweri Museveni has been serving as the leader of Uganda since 1986 and is one of the world’s longest-serving leaders.
Rebellion: He led a rebellion against the dictator Idi Amin in 1979.
Presidency: He won Uganda’s first direct presidential election and became President in 1996.
Awards & Honours

  • Order of Katonga (2023): Uganda’s highest military decoration (Nishani ya Katonga), a rare honour recognising extraordinary heroism.
  • Global Peace Award (2018): Conferred by the Global Peace Foundation for his role in promoting peace in the Great Lakes region and across Africa.
  • AfrikaVerein Award (2016): Awarded by the German-Africa Business Association in Berlin for leadership excellence; first African president to receive it.
  • Honorary Doctorates: Received from institutions including the Humphrey School of Public Affairs (USA) and the Latin University of Theology (USA)..

About Uganda:
Prime Minister (PM) – Robinah Nabbanja
Capital– Kampala
Currency– Ugandan Shilling (UGX)

India’s Olympic Medallist Vijender Singh Appointed as Member of ABCO
In January 2026, the Boxing Federation of India (BFI) announced the appointment of India’s Olympic Medallist and professional boxer Vijender Singh as a member of the Asian Boxing Council (ABCO).

Exam Hints:

  • What? Appointment of New Member to Asian Boxing Council
  • Who? Vijender Singh
  • Announced by: BFI
  • Key Accomplishment: India’s 1st Olympic Medallist in Boxing
  • Olympic Career: Bronze Medal (2008 Beijing Olympic Games )

About Vijender Singh:
Olympic Medal: He scripted history by winning India’s 1st Olympic Medal in Boxing(Bronze medal) at the 2008 Olympic Games held in Beijing, China.
Asian Games: He also won a bronze medal at the 2006 Asian Games held in Doha, Qatar and a gold medal at the 2010 Asian Games in Guangzhou, China.
CWG Performance: He is a 3-time Commonwealth Games (CWG) medallist, winning silver medal at Melbourne CWG 2006 (Australia), Bronze at Delhi CWG 2010 (India) and Silver at Glasgow 2014 (Scotland).
About Asian Boxing Council(ABCO):
Operated by: Established in 1985 and headquartered in Bangkok, Thailand, the ABCO functions under the World Boxing Council (WBC).
Key Function: It plays a pivotal role in shaping the sport’s competitive and developmental framework and operates across the Asian and Australasian regions.

ENVIRONMENT

New Crustacean Genus Indiaphonte bijoyi Discovered in Lakshadweep 
In January 2026, Researchers from Cochin University of Science and Technology (Cusat) have discovered an Indiaphonte bijoyi, a new genus and species of microscopic harpacticoid copepod from the Kavaratti lagoon in the islands of Union Territory (UT) Lakshadweep.

  • The new discovery has been published in a paper in ‘Zootaxa’, a major international journal for animal taxonomy.

Exam Hints:

  • What? Discovery of new microscopic (or, tiny) crustacean
  • Where? Kavaratti lagoon in Lakshadweep islands
  • Family: Laophontidae within Copepoda class
  • Name: ‘Indiaphonte bijoyi’
  • Significance: A new genus and a new species
  • Key Features: semi-cylindrical, depressed body; antennae-like appendages at the front

About New Crustacean:
Family: It belongs to the family Laophontidae under the ‘Copepoda’ class.

  • It is considered a new genus because it exhibits unique morphological features that do not match any previously recorded genus with the Laophontidae family.

Species Name: This newly discovered crustacean has been named ‘Indiaphonte bijoyi’.

  • Its genus name ‘Indiaphonete’ is named to honour India while its species name ‘bijoyi ’named after S. Bijoy Nandan, Dean, Faculty of Marine Sciences, Cochin University of Science and Technology (CUSAT) in Kerala  and former Vice-Chancellor of Kannur University.

Key Features: This crustacean is essentially an  meiofauna that are tiny invertebrate animals less than 1 millimetre (mm) in size living in sediments in aquatic ecosystems.

  • It has a semi-cylindrical, depressed body (wider in the middle and tapering towards the posterior) and antennae-like appendages at the front.
  • The body length of females ranges from 518 to 772 micrometres(μm), which is slightly larger than body length of males (from 508 to 756 μm).

BOOKS & AUTHORS

Vice-President C. P. Radhakrishnan Releases Hindi Edition of AutobiographyPalanivelu GUTS’:
In January 2026, the Vice-President (VP) of India, C. P. Radhakrishnan, released the Hindi edition of Palanivelu GUTS’, the autobiography of eminent surgeon Dr. C. Palanivelu, in New Delhi, Delhi.

Exam Hints:

  • What? Release of Hindi edition of ‘Palanivelu GUTS’
  • Who? VP, C. P. Radhakrishnan
  • Author: Dr C. Palanivelu, pioneering surgeon
  • Significance: Showcases the journey of innovation in laparoscopic and robotic surgery

About the Book:
Authorship: ‘Palanivelu GUTS’ is an autobiography written by Dr. C. Palanivelu, first published in English in July 2024. It was published by the GEM Foundation.
Theme: Chronicles the journey of a young man from humble beginnings, overcoming resistance and setbacks with discipline, hard work, and ethical conviction.
Medical Contributions: Dr. Palanivelu pioneered laparoscopic surgery in India, establishing the first centre in Coimbatore in 1991, and advanced robotic surgery.

IMPORTANT DAYS

National Disaster Response Force Raising Day 2026 – January 19National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) Raising Day is observed annually across India on 19 January to commemorate the establishment of the NDRF, a specialized disaster response force under the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA).

  • January 19, 2026 marks the observance of the 21st NDRF Raising Day.

Exam Hints:

  • What? National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) Raising Day 2026
  • When? January 19, 2026
  • Why? To commemorate the establishment of NDRF on January 19, 2006
  • Act: Disaster Management Act (DMA), 2005.
  • Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA)
  • Motto: Aapada Seva Sadaiv Sarvatra (Service to Humanity Always, Everywhere).

Background:
Disasters: India experienced a series of devastating natural disasters between 1990 and 2004, which led to the creation of the Disaster Management (DM) Act, 2005 on 26 December, 2005.
Legislation: The DM Act provided for the establishment of the NDRF under Section 44, and the force was officially raised on 19 January 2006 as India’s premier disaster response unit.

  • Since its inception, January 19 has been observed annually as NDRF Raising Day.

2026 Event:
The 21st Raising Day of the NDRF was observed on January 19, 2026, with PM Narendra Modi and Union Minister Amit Shah, MHA, extended their greetings to NDRF personnel, paid tribute to the martyrs of the force.

  • NDRF organised a Blood Donation Camp at the NDRF Academy, Nagpur (Maharashtra), highlighting its commitment to humanitarian service and social responsibility.

About National Disaster Response Force (NDRF):
Mandate: NDRF is India’s specialized disaster response agency and the world’s largest force dedicated exclusively to disaster management.
Administrative Control: The NDRF operates under the MHA, with strategic direction and policy guidance provided by the National Disaster Management Authority(NDMA) chaired by the Prime Minister (PM) of India (Narendra Modi).
Force Composition: The NDRF follows a deputation-based model with approximately 16 battalions drawn from Central Armed Police Forces including Border Security Force (BSF), Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB), and Assam Rifles(AR).
Operational Structure: Each battalion has about 1,149 personnel and is organized into 18 specialized Search and Rescue(SAR) teams of 45–47 members comprising engineers, technicians, dog squads, and medical/paramedic staff.
Motto: The force operates under the motto Aapada Seva Sadaiv Sarvatra.
Response Capability: Floods, cyclones, earthquakes, landslides, industrial accidents, and Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) emergencies.
Director General (DG) – Piyush Anand
Headquarters – New Delhi, Delhi.

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Current Affairs Today (AffairsCloud Today)

Current Affairs 21 January 2026
Overview of 28th Conference of Speakers and Presiding Officers of the Commonwealth Held in New Delhi
Responsible Nations Index 2026: Singapore Leads, India Ranked at 16th Spot
Overview of Japan’s FM Toshimitsu Motegi 3-Day Visit to India from January 15 to  17, 2026
Overview of Vibrant Gujarat Regional Conference 2026 Held  in Rajkot, Gujarat
Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh Inaugurates Ammunition Facility in Nagpur, Maharashtra
5th Edition of INS Sagardhwani Flagged Off for Sagar Maitri V (SM-5) Initiative
RBI Recognises FEDAI as Self-Regulatory Organisation for Authorised Dealers
Canara Bank Partners with NBSL to Integrate UPI into its Payment App Canara aiPe
IMF Raises India’s Economic Growth Forecast to 7.3% in FY26
Air India and Singapore Airlines Sign Commercial Cooperation Agreement to Strengthen Partnership
ACC Appoints New Directors General of NIA, BSF & ITBP
Yoweri Museveni Re-elected as President of Uganda for Seventh Term
India’s Olympic Medallist Vijender Singh Appointed as Member of ABCO
New Crustacean Genus Indiaphonte bijoyi Discovered in Lakshadweep
Vice-President C. P. Radhakrishnan Releases Hindi Edition of Autobiography ‘Palanivelu GUTS’:
National Disaster Response Force Raising Day 2026 – January 19

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